Car-coupling



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Mndel.) H. BOYD 85,13.. FRANTZ.

GAB. COUPLING Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

2 sheets-sheen 2. H. BOYD 8v E.FRANTZ.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

. (No Model.)

l rw v"rares PATENT OFFICEe HORACE' BQYD`AND ELIAS FRANTZ, OF COPLAY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,440, dated January 15, 1 895.v

Application filed September 24, 1894, l Serial No. 523,868. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, HORACE BOYD and ELIAS FRANTZ, both citizens of the United States, residing at Copla'y, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification. Y

Our invention'has relation to that class'of car couplers designated as twin jaw or vertical couplers; and in such connection itrelates more particularly to the general construction and arrangement thereof.

The principal objects of our invention are, first, to provide ay simple, strong or durable and eificient car coupler;A second, to provide a twin-jaw car coupler arranged so that the jaws thereof are automatically locked to required position with eachother and manually unlocked by the manipulation of a releasing device; third, to provide a car coupler having a draw-bar, neck or stem hinged or pivoted to the draw-head thereof so as to permit of the coupling of o'ne car with another on any curved portion of a road; fifth, to provide a car coupler having a pivotal draw-bar, neck or stem with a friction. collar or yoke in normalengagement with the draw-head and springs under the control of set-screws or the like engaging Said bar, stem or neck to permit of the coupling of one car with another with facility on a curve; sixth, to provide a coupler each member of'4 which is -provided with a pivotal jaw adapted to be engaged by an internal spring positioned locking device, whereby in the contact of the jaw of one member with that of the other a firm and solid connection is automaticallyv established and by a manual manipulation of a device connected with the locking block of each member adapted to engage the coupling jaw, the same is released to enable one car to be parted from the other; seventh, to provide a car coupler with a hinged draw-bar or neck maintained in required position in the drawhead by means of springs under the control of set screws or the like, whereby coupling of cars von curved courses or roads is insured with certainty and safety; eighth, to provide a car coupler having a pivotal jaw adapted to be locked to the draw-head and released manually with perfect safety and without the presence of--a person going between cars, and,

ninth, to simplify the construction and arrangement of the parts of a car coupleryand to so improve the operation thereof as that perfect safety and reliability in the coupling `of cars irrespective of the'conditions or curvature of the road-bed is absolutely insured.

Our invention stated in general terms, consists' of a car coupler constructed, arranged and adapted for operation in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

AThe nature and general features of our invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with kthe accompanying drawings forming part hereof, andv in which- Y Figure l, is a top or plan view of a car coupler embodying the features of our invention,

ative position in connection with the drawhead. Fig. 2, is a view partly in plan and partly in section, showing the internal construction and arrangement of the coupler together with the pivoted or hinged draw-bar or neck thereof. Fig, 3, is a longitudinal section through the coupler on the line cl3-, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, is 'a cross-sectional view of the coupler on the line yy, of Fig. 3.

'Referring to thedrawings A, is the drawhead of somewhat the type of a Janney coupler recessed in front at a., and with tapering or contracted projections a and 0.2,'in one of vwhich is mounted a knuckle or coupling hook or jaw a3, provided with its tail piece a4. This coupling hook, jaw or knuckle a3, is pivoted at 0,5, to the bottom and top walls of the proj ecton a', of the draw-head A.v

' In the body of thehead A, is mounted the locking block B, which is pivoted at b', to the walls of said head. This block at one end is recessed at b2, and at the opposite end is formed with a notched projection or-lu'g b3, adapted to engage a complemental notch or recess a6, in the side wall of the headA.

b4, is a coiled or other suitable spring set into an offset or pocket al, formed in the rear wall of the head A, and this'spring normally engages the locking block B, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

b5, is an oblong slot formed in the pivotally supported locking block B, and engaged by the showing-the jaw thereof in 'a locked or oper- ICO projecting pin l1, of a releasing device B', extending upward through the top of the head A, and pivoted to lugs as and a, formed preferably integral therewith, the rear extremity of which device is engaged by a chain bi, for releasing the recessed portion of said block B, from its engagement with the tail piece a, of the coupling hook, jaw or knuckle a3, as will be readily understood from Figs. l, 2 and 3, of the drawings.

C, is a draw-bar or hollow neck provided with a slot c, extending therethrough for securing the same to a bumper rod or bar located under the car in any well understood manner. The draw-har or neck G, has formed either integral therewith or secured to the forward portion of the same, afriction collar or yoke c2, which normally engages the rear wall of the draw-head A, one face of which is made dish-shape to contour with that of the head, for a purpose to be presently explained. The forward extremital portion of the drawbar or hollow neck ot' the coupler is made solid and rectangular in form to constitute a bearing tongue C', as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and lits loosely in a complemental chamber A', provided therefor `in the rear of the head A, as clearlyillnstrated in Fig. 2, and which portion of the said bar or neck is pivoted or hinged at c, to thetop and bottom walls of the said head A. It may be here remarked that the chamber A', is of greater area than the tongue in order to permit of ranges of movement therein. e and e', are tapped chambers or openings provided in the rear solid portion of the draw-head A, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. At preferably an angle to a plane through the head and mounted therein are springs e2 and e3, which normally engage at one end with the tongue of said draw-bar or neck (Land at theopposite end with set screws c4 and e5, for increasing or decreasing the bearing pressure of the springs against the said tongue and in order to permit by the adjustment of the said screws of an increase or decrease of the range of curved movement of the draw-bar or neck C, in the chamber or bearing space A', as clearly illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, of the drawings, for permitting of the coup-` ling and uncoupling of one car from another on a curved roadway or course. y

In Fig. 2, is shown in full lines the normal position of the knuckle or coupling jaw a3, in its engagement with the recessed end of the locking block B,.and as well in dotted lines the unlocked or open position of the said knuckle or jaw and locking block, after the latter has been actuated by means of the releasing device B', by the drawing in an upward direction of the chain as shown in Fig. 3, to cause the block B, to be shifted rearwardly and away from a position in engagement with the tail-piece a, ofthe knuckle or coupling jaw a3, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be observed that the spiral spring bearing` normally` against the locking block B, is adapted to maintain the latter in firm contact with the tail piece a4, of said coupling jaw a3, when in engagement therewith, and the lng or projection at one end of the said block is adapted to limit the extent of movement of the block B, in one direction and it is maintained in that position in engagement with the notch or recess in the side wall of the said head A, until in the movement vertically of the bell crank releasing device B', by means of its chain, the locking block B, is shifted rearwardly from such position and so as to free the coupling jaw a, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. j

It may be here remarked that but one coupler has been l,shown in the drawings adapted for attachmentin any suitable mannerl to the right hand endet' alcar, but it is to be understood that one exactly like that illustrated but occupying a contrary` or` left hand position is attached to the other car at one end and in such manner asthat the two cars may be automaticallycoupled together.

It will be4 manifestlyA obvious that as to minor details in the arrangementof` the yparts of the coupler of our` invention, modifications may be made and still bewithin the spirit and scope of our invention j Having thus describedahe nature and objects of our invention, `what We claim as new, and desire `to secure by Letters Patent, isfj l. A car coupler provided `with a draw-head having a chamber, adraw-bar or neck movablyheld inthe chamberof said` head and springs adjustably engaging said bar and neck so as to afford a range of movement of said bar or neck, substantially as and for the purposes described.` j

2. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a rear rectangular chamber, a drawbar provided witha hollow slotted neck and with a solid tongue `pivotally supported in the chamber of said draw-head, springs en gaging said tongue, and set screws, engaging said springs substantially as and for the purposes described. j j i i j j ,j

3. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a knuckle jointed coupling jaw and a locking device maintained inposition with the tail piece of said jawby means of a spring, a device adaptedtoshifusaid locking block out of engagement with said coupling jaw, a movable draw-bar or neck connected with said head under the tension of springsY and set screws connected withsaid head and engaging said springs, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a pivotally supported coupling jaw and a locking device maintained in operative position therewith by means of a spring, a releasing appliance for shifting said device out of engagement with said jaw, a draw-bar or hollow neck provided with a tongue pivoted in the rear wall of said draw-head and engaged by springs, and means for contro1- IOO IIO

IZO

n ling the position thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. 'Acar coupler provided with a draw-head having a pivotaiiy supported coupiingjaw, a locking device therefor heid under spring tension in engagement therewith, a pivotaily supported bell crank appliance for shifting said 'locking device, a draw-bar provided with pivotaiiy supported therein under spring tension, said bar or neck provided with a friction coilar'or yoke adapted to'iimit the range of movement of said bar -or neck with respect to said head,v substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set oursignatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE BOYD. ELIAS FRANTZ.

Witnesses: v

THos. O. GINKINGER, THos. F. DIEFENDERFER; 

